Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 I was wondering if anyone here has ever taken a double-dose of Tikosyn? In reading all the package inserts full of dire warnings I wonder if there's a safety factor built in so that taking two 500 mcg doses an hour apart might not be as dangerous as it sounds. I know everyone's different and there's a lot of variables but quite honestly, I get nervous at times because I'm afraid of an accidental overdose. (I have all the pill cases lined up by day of the week etc... but I'm on so many different heart meds for the cardiomyopathy I sometime take my handful, swallow and then say to myself: " hmmn, was the Tikosyn in there? " . Let me know if anyone else has the same experiences or input on this. Thanks. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Hi Jim: Yes - I have taken more Tikosyn that I should have. I have four of them to take a day. Two are one color and the other two are a two-tone color. In the morning I take one of each color and repeat the dosage in the evening. However, on a couple of occasions, I have mistakenly took two of the same color - overdosing. Boy~~~~ did I sweat it out? But nothing happened! I'm still here <g>! I've also bounced back and forth with times - which I know I shouldn't do. But sometimes when I'm out (even though I have them in my pocket) I forget - and I could be as much as an hour late. But again, nothing happened. I'm still here <g>! During the cooler months, I find it easier, time wise, to take 'em around 9pm - but in the summer, 11:00. The only drawback is the later I take them, the more I have to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. I wish I could stop taking any water at all about 7 or 8pm - but it just doesn't work that way. Cause if I took them at 7 or 8, and I wanted to sleep in the next morning, I couldn't! A couple of years ago, all my meds were stolen from my car in Florida - it's a very long story, but to keep it short, the Orlando Police arranged for me to pick up Tikosyn at the Orlando Hospital. I also called Pfizer to have them ship a supply to the Motel I was staying at. I spoke to both the Orlando Pharmacist and the Pfizer Pharmacist, because I had already missed a dose. Both told me that if I missed the second dose, I would have to admit myself to the Hospital in order to get the next dose, and get bak on track. Through many tears, it all worked out in the end - and I said a few prayer that those miserable thiefs would get their *kicks* out of taking Dofilide! I would strongly suggest that if any of you miss a dose - and know, through circumstances such as above, that you might miss a second dose, get in touch with your doctor immediately. Ellen (NSR on Dofetilide) ********************** Anyone overdosed on Tikosyn? I was wondering if anyone here has ever taken a double-dose of Tikosyn? In reading all the package inserts full of dire warnings I wonder if there's a safety factor built in so that taking two 500 mcg doses an hour apart might not be as dangerous as it sounds. I know everyone's different and there's a lot of variables but quite honestly, I get nervous at times because I'm afraid of an accidental overdose. (I have all the pill cases lined up by day of the week etc... but I'm on so many different heart meds for the cardiomyopathy I sometime take my handful, swallow and then say to myself: " hmmn, was the Tikosyn in there? " . Let me know if anyone else has the same experiences or input on this. Thanks. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 HOLY SMOKES, you didn't take five (5) Tikosyn did you? In response to one of th other posts, it seems like (at least for me) 2 or 3 hours early or late isn't a big deal, but that all depends (I guess) on one's QT interval, and whether or not your close to the limit. Recently I've had to go on some antibiotics and spent some time on the phone with Pfizer talking about which ones I could take and which ones I could not take. Some are very dangerous with Tikosyn. Once of the biggest no-no's with Tikosyn are certain types of anti-fungal drugs. I feel that I have to be the watch-dog on this one is that my HMO does not support my taking of the Tikosyn (although my cardiologist does). They won't pay for it and it never shows up on my medical records because it's not on Kaiser's formulary so I have to always tell them. The only way I got on it in the first place was a convergence of circumstances when I got stuck in upstate New York on Sept 11st and I wound up in the hospital and my cardio talked them into starting the tikosyn even though my HMO wouldn't authorize it... it's a long (and happy ending) story. anyway, I'd like to know if anyone else has taken a double-dose by accident. thanks Jim PS. I can't figure out why my new MAC can't seem to word-wrap these messages properly. My IBM had no problem. I'm using Safari Browser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Hi Jim and other fellow tikosyn users, When I first went on tikosyn and forgot my purse with meds in it and ended up being 3 hrs late to take the med, I almost paniced. Couldn't be helped, I was 40 mi away from home and had to wait for my mom cause she was having her post-cateract removal Dr appt. But, I zoomed too fast back down the interstate to get home to take my tikosyn! I try to take the med at 9:30am/pm, but like Ellen, if I'm not home, I forget to take it at the proper time. I felt a few faint starts of PACs the other day when I was 3 hrs late taking the tikosyn, so that was a big reminder!! Like all of you, I have had times that I could not remember if I had taken the med or not. At that time I was checking off a calendar twice a day and I'd write down when I started a new bottle. Many a time I had to count the pills in the 3 month supply bottle and count the pills in my pill box in purse and try to figure out from the calendar how many pills I'd taken to figure out if I'd taken a dose or not! I never was too secure with that method. Now, after taking a pill on Sat night, I take out 14 tikosyn for the week ahead and put them in a separate bottle to start anew on Sunday. That way, I can figure out more easily if I have taken a pill or not. This might work for some of you, too. I've never taken one past 3.5 hrs late. But, I'd be very scared to take it after 6 hours if I missed it. And, I'd be even more scared to think I took a double dose (1000mcg at a time!!) cause of how it can elongate that QT and cause death! Hope we can all figure out a way that makes things easier for all of us to remember our miracle drug, tikosyn! > I was wondering if anyone here has ever taken a double-dose of Tikosyn? >(snip) Let me know if anyone else has the same experiences or input on this. Thanks. > > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 > ...The only drawback is the later I take them (tikosyn), the more I have to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. I wish I could stop taking any water at all about 7 or 8pm - but it just doesn't work that way. Cause if I took them at 7 or 8, and I wanted to sleep in the next morning, I couldn't! Ellen, do they act as a diuretic? Or do you have to take them with a lot of water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 I'm not on tikosyn, but do have problems remembering to take my meds on occasion. Taking meds becomes routine, and I'd find myself wondering " did I take the coumadin or not. " My wife solved that for me by buying something called phamadose. It has a slot for each day of the week and each slot is divided into separate compartment for morning, noon, evening, and bedtime. I just load up a weeks worth of meds Sunday morning. Doesn't help me remember, but at least its really easy to see if I took a dose or not and get the dosage right. Wouldn't be without it. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 No - as far as I know Tikosyn does not act as a diuretic; however my Primary Care Physician told me that I should always take at least 6 to 7 oz of water with all medication; and that much water after 8pm has me up a couple of times during the night. Ellen (NSR on Dofetilide/Tikosyn) ******************************* ----- Original Message ----- From: trudyjhagain Ellen, do they act as a diuretic? Or do you have to take them with a lot of water? ****************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 Hi when I was on this drug it cam in white capsules all the same for he various strengths. I inadvertently took double the dose by mistake. for about a week.. I did not seem to have any side effects except when I went to the my EP he went white. The dangerous bit was the torsade du point but as long as my Qt was ok it was fine. it was on the border line.. I went back to the right dose and carried on.. C ps that was about three years ago and I am still here// o - as far as I know Tikosyn does not act as a diuretic; however my Primary Care Physician told me that I should always take at least 6 to 7 oz of water with all medication; and that much water after 8pm has me up a couple of times during the night. Ellen (NSR on Dofetilide/Tikosyn) * ********************************************************************** This message may contain information which is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and any attachments without retaining a copy. ********************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 I had to LOL, Ed. That phamadose is a good idea, but then one has to be able to remember what day of the week it is!! All the days run together for me a lot and I have to really think what is the day and date! Sorry, couldn't resist, but my laughter is actually about true situations we (I) experience. Cheryl (snip) My wife solved that for me by buying something called phamadose. (snip) Doesn't help me remember, but at least its really easy to see if I took a dose or not and get the dosage right. Wouldn't be without it. > Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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